Great Falls tribune., 1887-08-31

county seat, Great Fails, Is eentfally
ocated, easy OF access, and may be
.eached from the remotest settlements |
oy natural highways. Upon the |
of the railroad, Great
Falls will be the natural trade center
IF this defined area and the conve-
uience OF the citizens thereof could
not be better served han by its crea-
tion into separate division. Many
Of these people are now from seventy
five to one hundred miles from their
respective county seats, with noun
tain ranges intervening, that for
portion Of the year, at least, act as
barrier to all communication, except
by the most roundabout routes. 1t is
constant source Of expense and an
noyance to them to transact their
business at the county seat, and they
have the strongest possible grounds
for asking the organization OF Cas-
cade county. If it can be shown that
there is sufficient wealth and popula-
ton in the proposed new county and
that those from which it is made up
do not suffer in the change, the legis-
lature should not hesitate moment
about doing this act Of justice to the
petitioners. Even those few who are
prompted to oppose the measure on
the grounds of local jealousy-a feel
ing that too often finds lodgment in
the breast of the ambitious burgher
would be in the highest degree
benefited and soon have cause to be
glad that their ''kick'' was not sue
cessful.
#ss*
Cascade county as asked for, is
made up from Choteau, Lewis and
Clarke and Meagher counties. In
each case we believe it can be shown
that the portion claimed can be
readily surrendered without injury to
the old county. The strongest pro
test comes from Choteau county and
it is based upon the alleged grounds
that the county has not sufficient
wealth and population to warrant di-
vision in any form or manner. This
position, the TRIBUNE holds, is not
we'll taken. The assessment of the
county last year was in round mum.
bers So, 5OO,0 900, and in the opinion o1
the assessor it will reach these figures
the present year, il it does not exceed
them, Notwithstanding the severe
stock losses of last winter. On the
basis of last years assessment, &C
curately obtained from the assess
ment roll, the new county woul6
take from the old property to the as
| sessed value Of $3.50, 900, leaving
nearly S3,0o0,000 in Choteau county
But new and important element o
wealth has since been added. Th'
| Manitoba railroad has about 20i
miles of track in Choteau county AMI
| the assessed valuation of road-bee
and rolling stock next year will no
| be less than 5000 mile-the Nor
thern Pacific pays taxes at this rate
which means million dollars adde'
to the taxable property of the county
This much more than makes up TO
the stock losses, to say nothing
the increased wealth that will indi
rectly follow the completion of th
railroad. In the division, however
Cascade proposes to take even NOR
than her share Of the indebtedness
and will relieve Choteau of $4,000 Q
her obligations. At the same time
goodly share OF expense, NATURAL.
| incident to so large community re
mote from the county seat, will b
obviated-and altogether Chotea
county would be better off with tina
without division on the basis propos
ed. The argument that the time
not ripe and that there is not suficien
wealth to warrant the division asked
on the fair terms proposed, is utterl
without ground to stand upon, as al
fect1ng Choteau county. The ricl
county of Lewis and Clarke has no OF
| iections to offer and will abide by til
wishes of the residents interested
These are, to a great extent, IN favo
Of division, and where there is oppos
ton it is grounded on prejudice NOR
than reason. No greater benef
could be done to Meagher count
than to cut off that portion Of her te1
ritory lying on this side of the Be
mountains, which is a positive ea
pense to the county The people 9